Sheet-feeding machine.



x A. FREEMAN. SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 11, 1910. 1,087,533, Patented Feb. 17,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ZZMW BY [Y v ATTORNEY R. A. FREEMAN. SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1910.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914 2 SKEETS-SHEET 2.

msmsss.

' ATTORNEY of which the folloivin is I a novel mechanism for drop rollers 5 are T all "10/1. om it m (11 com-cm machines serving in connection with the line A B combing andfeeding ofi devices;

illustrating by sures A. FREEMAN, or

earner enrich,

FLUSHING, NEW COIVIPANY, OF NEW! YORK, N. Y.

YoJaK, 'ASIGNOR To THE aurorness A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-FEEDING- MACHINE.

Be it known that LRtn-Us A. FREEMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, and a residentof Flushing, Queens county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Machines, a specification, The invention relates to automatic sheet feeding machines and more particularly th for separating sheets from a stack. My invention has for an object to provide separating the sheets from a stackand delivering them from the stack one at a time with certaintyand at h speed; also to provide such-anmecha nism which may be readily adjusted to operateaipon sheets of ,various es i ad qualitics. These and other object o tionwill in part be .obvious and Yi'ill inpart more fully appear herein.

The invention consists in the novel parts, "constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvementsherein shown and described. The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the same I the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:-Figure- 1 is a top plan of a. sheet feeding machine embcdying the principles'of the invention; Fig/2 is, accentral longitudinal section, substantially on of Fig. 1 Fig," 3 is a'detail aid Fig. V 1s a detail, also on an enlargedisca'le, of a regulating, the

combine and feeding oli action on unseen.

eferring to the accompanying drawings,

way of example one embodie lnventlon, a stack of sheets 1 is upon a suitable support, such as' the ment of th table 2.- Conveniently located with respect to' the sheet stack to receive the separated 5 acts are sheet forwarding devices of suit able forms The form trated herewith comprises a driven roller 3, carrying tapes at and located above and cooperating therewith, drop virollersti. Said I mounted. upon arms 6 fixed to a shaft 7, said shaft being cont-rolled by suitable means (not shown herein).

A combing device 10 comprising. a series Specification of Letters flitent.

4' docked by of such devices illus- Patented Fob. i 17, ii i Application fiiedlllay 11, 1910. Serial No. 580,572.

of rolls 11 arranged substantially in a plane is mounted in'a suitable frame Said combing device 10 is furtheushown pivotally mounted on an arm 13 at near one end of said fran'ic 12. The arm 13 is i turn pivotally carried. upon a bracket arm l4. Suitable means are provided for causing the combing device to comb out the sheets, and also for regulating the pressure upon the sheets of the entire combing device, and also the pressure upon the sheets of the parts of the combine device relati'vely to each other. F or this purpose a compression spring 15 is arranged between the arii'r13 and acollar fixed on a pin '16, said pin'being threaded into .i lug '17 on the arm 14-, and being provided 'vith a turning head 18 to adjust the spring.

F or graduating the pressure of the various combing rolls 11 a spring 1!) is provided which exerts pressure between the frai'ue 12 and the arm 13. Said spring is conveniently coiled about a rod 20 thr adcd into a lug on the frame 12 and is under compression be tween a bearing surface 21 upon the arm 13 and an adjusting head 22 fixed on the rod 20.

.L cans are provided for giving movement to the combing devices and the embodied form thereof comprises a carriage 25 slidably mounted :in the frame of the machine, and which may be provided with suitable rollers 26 running in guideivays 27 upon 7 the machine frame. A reciprocating movement is communicated to the carriage 25 by .any suitable means, such as the links 28 c0n- .nected to levers- 29, which levers may be any suitable mechanism. illustrated anismsisuch as has just been described, are shown acting upon the back ends of the sheets at the top of the sheet stack.

.of the sheet stack, as shown in Fig. 1; It

however,

tion.

The bra-cket'arms 14 of both combing mechanisms are shown fixed to the shaft 30, which shaft'is mounted in the carriage Q5. 'Toi-ift'the combing devices 10 clear of the sheets during-thegreturn movement thereof I after-eachcombing action, the arms 13 are ,swu'ng' about that a different. number and arrangement may be made, sofar as concerns manv features of the lnven their respective mountings on 9.

the bracket arms 14:. The illustrated form of means for effecting this comprises a cam 31 coacting with a roll 32 on the rod 33 extending between the two arms 13. Said parts and the parts cotiperating therewith may be constructed and arranged and. also may operate in the mannerdescribed in my copending application Serial No. 395,388, and need not be described herein in detail. The combing devices are also adjustable on the carriage 25 backward and forward in the same direction. as the comb'i' lg movement to bring them into proper rel" ion for separating sheets of different sizes. For this purpose the ends of the rod 50 are carried by blocks 75 slidably mounted in guideways 76 in the carriage frame. Fixed to the blocks 7 are lugs 77 into which are screw threaded rods 78 connecting by miter gears '79 with a cross shaft 80. Turning heads 81 are shown on the ends of the rods 7 8, the shaft 80 and connections causing the two rods and therefore both blocks 75 to move together.

Feeding off devices for delivering the sheet from the stack to the drop rollers 5 and the tapes 4 are provided. The form of such means shown comprises pusher fingers or rolls 38, mounted upon arms 39, which arms are pivotally carried by the carriage 25. Two rolls 38 and arms 39 are shown mounted at either side of the longitudinal center line of the sheet stack. Each arm 89 is shown pivotally attached to a bracket 4-0. Both of the brackets 40 are adjustably mounted upon a cross rod 4-1 of the riage The rolls 38 may be provided with a ratchet and detent- 42, in a well j znown manner, :0 permit a fresh bearing 40 surface to be brought into operative position as desired and to prevent movement thereof during the feeding ofi of the sheet.

Means for placing and regulating pressure upon the rolls 38 are provided, and the embodied form thereof comprises a spring 43 shown coiled about a rod 66. screw 1 threaded into an arm 67 fixed to the bracket 40. The spring {l3 bears against a collar (38 on the rod 66, and the rod is turned 1n.

"its threaded bearing in the arm 67 by means of the head a l to regulate the pressure of the spring 43 on the roller 38.

Means are provided for causing the rolls 38 to pass out of contact with the face of the sheet stack during their idle or return movement after the feeding off of the sheets, and the form of such means shown comprises arms 45 between which a rod 46 carrying a roller 69 cotiperating with a suitable cam 45 and other mechanisms (not shown) which may be substantially of the form illustrated and described in my said copending application Serial No. 395,388. The bar i8 carrying the cams 31 and 47 as shown in the present drawings corresponds menace substantially to the bar 44: shown in said copending application and has substantiallythe same functions and does not need to be described in further detail.

In accorda ace with one feature of the invention, a sleet holding device is provided which conta ;s with the rear end of a sheet to hold it aainst the action of the feeding off device w ten the latter is acting through another she t but said sheet holding device fd'des not hold he sheet against the action of the combing devices. Said sheet holding device acts onthe rear end of the sheet next to the top sheet of the stack to hold it against the action of the feeding off device when the latter is acting upon the top sheet to deliver it to the drop roller 5 and the tapes 4. In the embodied form an inherently resilient finger 50 is shown which may be of several plies of flat steel of different lengths. portion of the finger 50 is maderigid and abrupt or with a small efiective contact area. adapted to efiect a nipping contact with the sheet to hold it with certainty until the top sheet is forwarded off and the forwarding means act directly upon the sheet engaged by the finger. When this sheet is forwarded beyond the finger, the latter engages the rear end of the next sheet and effectively holds it against the action of "the forward-v ing devices, and so on; this action being rendered possible by reason'yof the separation of the sheets due to the bombing devices. Said spring finger50 is fastened to a piece 51 pivotally mounted upon the lug.

Said lug is slidahly mounted .upon the rod which is mounted transversely of the machine frame. The rod 53 is also slidable backward and forward longitudinally of the machine frame, and for this purpose said rod is e rried by'blocks 54 slidable on the guide 55 in the carriage frame. A binding screw 56 serves to hold the lug 52 in position on the rod 53.

Means are provided for the purpose of adjusting the ressure of'the spring fingers The free end or effective contact v 50 upon the sh et stack to regulate the pressure so the sheet will be held firmly until it is the top sheet and the forwarding devices act on it direct when it will be fed oil against said pressure. The form of such means shown o'ornprises a screw rod 57 threaded in the piece 51. andpassing through a slot 58 in an extension 59 of the lug 52. A spring 45} is coiled about the rod 57 and under compression between the parts 51 and 59. The rod 57 is provided with a fixed coll ar 70 which bears upon the upper face of the part 59. Said rod 57 is also provided with a head 71'for convenience in turning. As the rod 57 is rotated in one direction, it increases the pressure of the fingers 50 on the top, of. the sheets, and when rotated in the opposite direction it decreases such pres des The edge sure. The sprlngdt) serves to keep the finger substantially horizontal when not resting on the sheets, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the machine. 4

According to one feature of the invention, the holding devices are arranged to engage the sheets contiguous to and at either sidejof a combingdevice. Two fingers may be carried upon a single piece 51, said fingers being spaced apart, whereby the combing de vice may reciprocate between the fingers. of the paper is thus kept taut and. smooth where the combing device acts upon it, and the tearing oi the edge of the sheet. by the combing device is prevented. In F 1 such an arrangement is'shown for each combing device. By independently adjusting the combing devices and the hold ing fingers, the'latter serves, among other things, to modify the operation of the -former, the rate of combing of the sheets may be nicely regulated and regulated independently at opposite sides of the stack so that the sheets will be advanced with their front edges substantially at right angles with the path of travel. In said figure also there are shown two centrally located fingers 50 which are longer and contact with the sheet a little forward of the sets of fingers at either side, in )osition to nip and hold any second sheet which might not beheld by the side sets of fingers.

Means are provided for adjusting the slidable blocks 54 along the guides 5:3 to posi tion the fingers 50 for sheets oi." ditterent sizes and for keeping said fingers 50 in proper relation to the combing devices and the feeding ofi' devices so that they may act properly on the nextto the top sheet. The illustrated form of, such adjusting means comprises threaded shafts 60, threaded into lugs upon theblocks 54., and turned in uni-- son by suitable means, such as the miter gears 61, and shaft. 62.

Suitable means are provided for keeping the top of the sheet stack in proper relation to the separating devices. The .t'orm or" such means shown comprises a detector 170 con ncctcd to an arm 171 fixed to a shaft 172, which controls a check lever 173. Said check lever controls the movement of the pawl 174, to permit or prevent the actuation of the ratchet wheel 175 by the pawl the ratchet wheel being suitably connected the support 2 for the sheet stack. ticular form of said devices are not a part of the present invention and need not be described in further detail.

he fingers 1'76 serve to between the roll 4 and e invention, in its not limited to the particularconstruct-ions shown, nor to any particular constructions bywhich it has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be Ilifldeih the guide the sheets drop rollers-5.

broader aspects, is

"the action of the'combing device.

departing from the invention and withand degage a. sheet near its rear end and hold it against the action of the feeding off device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not againstthe action of the combing device. i

2. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets,

gage a sheet near its rear end with a substantially predetermined pressure and hold it against the action of the feeding off device when the latter is acting through another sheet butnot against the action of the combing device abrupt, rlgid'contact portion arranged to ensheet separating mechanism includa combing device, a feeding V oft dev c and a holdmg device having an ing in combination means for supporting a stack ofsheets, ofi d vice a combing device, a feeding a holding device for engaging the rear ends of the sheets, said holding device having an abrupt, rigid contact portion, and means for adjusting the pressureeXe-rted by said contact portion, whereby the holding device will hold a sheet against the action of the feeding ofi device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against -fl-. A sheet separating mechanism includ-. ing in combination means for holdinga a holding device having an rigid contactportion, means for adto engage the rear ends of the combed out sheets, and means for adjusting the pressure exerted by saidcontact portion, whereby the holding device will engage a sheet near its rear end and hold it against the action of the feeding oil,device butnotagainst the action of the'combing device.

r sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, acombing device, a feeding oft-device, and a plurality of holding devices each having an abrupt, rigid contact to engage a sheet near its plurality of abrupt, rigid contact portions;

ill)

the combing device.

25 rear end and holdit arranged to engage a sheet near its rear end and hold itagainst the action of the feeding oil device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of 7 A sheet separatingmechanism includmg in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, a feeding oft device, and plurality of holding de- 10 vices, each having an abrupt, rigid contact portion arranged to engage a sheet near its rear end and hold it against the action of the feeding off device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of the combing device, one of said holding devices being arranged at each side of the longitudinal center line of the sheet stack.

8. A sheet separating mechanism includ- II ing in combination means for supporting a 39 of the longitudinal center line of the sheet stack, and a third holding device arranged between said first mentioned holding devices.

9. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, a feeding otl' device, and a plurality of holding-devlces, each havlngfan abrupt, rigidcontact portlon arranged to engage a sheet near its rear end and hold it against the action of, to the feeding oil device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of the combing device, one of said holding devices being arranged at each side of the longitudinal center line of the sheet stack, and a third holding device arranged substantial] I at said center line o1" the. sheet stack betwcenrsaid first mentioned holding devices.

10. A. sheet separatingmechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device,'a feeding oil device, and a plurality of holding devices, each having'an abrupt, rigidcontac't portion arm n -ed to engage a sheet near its rear end andhold it againstthe action of the feeding oil? device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of the combing device, one of said holding vices being arranged at each side of the lengitadinal center line of the sheet stack, and

a third. holding device arranged between said first mentioned holding devices, said third holding device engaging the sheet in ad- Vance of the other two;

$5 11. A sheet SGDMMJIHF' mechanism includ- (3 ing in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, a feeding oli device, and a plurality of holding devices each having a portion arran ed to engage a sheet near its rear end and iold it against the action of the feeding oii' device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of the combing device, one of said holding devices being arranged betwecn two others.

12. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, a feeding ofi' device, and a plurality of holding devices each having a portion arranged to engage a sheet near its rear end and hold it against the action of the feeding oil device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of the combing device, one of said holdingdevices being arranged between two others and engaging the sheet at a point in advance of the points of engagement of the other two holding devices.

13. A sheet separating mechanism includ-. ing in combination means for supporting,- a. stack of sheets, a combing device, a feeding oii' device, a plurality of hold ng devices for engaging the rear ends of the sheets, said holding devices having abrupt, rigid contact portions, and independent adjusting means for adjusting the pressure exerted by each of said holding devices, whereby the holding device will hold a sheet against the action of the feeding olf device when the latter is acting through another sheet but not against the action of the combing device.

14 A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, a feeding ofl? device and an inherently resilient holdzingdevicc having an abrupt, rigid contact part to engage the rear end of the second sheet from the top of the stack and hold same while the top sheet is being advanced bythe feeding oii devices.

lsji. A sheet separating mechanism including in. combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, and sheet holding means having abrupt, rigid contact parts acting on the sheets at each side and close to the place of action of the combing device.

16. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack oi sheets, a traveling combing device, and a sheet holding device having an abrupt, rigid contact part acting on the sheets at each side andrclose to the line ofaction of the combing device.

17. A. sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack 0t sheets, a combing device, a. sheet torwarding device, and sheet holding means contacting; with the sheets at each side and close to the combingdevice to hold a sheet stack of sheets, a combing device, a sheet forwardmg device, and sheet holdlng means having a plurality ofnbrupt, rigid contact portions contacting with the sheets at each side and close to the combing device to hold a sheet against the action of the forwarding device when acting through another sheet but not against the combing device.

19. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a stack of sheets, a combing device, and also a sheet forwarding d vice at each side of the longitudinal center line of the sheet stack, and a plurality of holding means arranged toengage a sheetnear its rear end and close to each combing device to hold. a sheetagainst the action of the feeding off devices when acting through another sheet but not against the combing devices and similar holding means located intermediately said first mentioned holding means.

20. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supportinga stack of sheets, a combing device, and also a sheet forwarding device at each side of-the longitudinal center line of the sheet stack and a plurality of holding means-arranged to engage a sheet near its rear end and close to each combing device to hold a sheet against the action ofthe feeding off devices when acting through another sheet but not against the combing devices and similar holding means located intermediately said first mentioned holding means, and rela-' tively farther from said combing devices.

21. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination means for supporting a staclr of sheets, a combing device and also a sheet forwarding device at each side of the .longitudinal center line of the sheet stack.

and a plurality of holding means arranged to engage a sheet near its rear end and close to' each combing device to hold a sheet against the action of the feeding off devices when acting through another sheet but not against the combing devices and similar holding means located substantially I centrally said first mentioned holding means.

22. A sheet separator including in combination a traveling combing device acting on the rear edges of the sheets, sheet forwarding devices and an inherently resilient sheet holding finger inclined in the direction of travel of the sheets and having an abrupt, rigid end in contact with the face of the sheet stack adjacent to the end of the path'of travel of the combing device.

28. A sheet separator including in combination a traveling combing device, a support arranged to the rear of said combing device, a plurality of-sheet holding fingers mounted on said support and extending forward at each side of the combing device and having abrupt, rigid contact parts contacting wit-h the face of the stack. 1

2-1 A sheet separator including in'combination a traveling combing device, a support arranged to the rear of said combing device, a plurality of inherently resilient sheetholding fingers mounted on said support and extendingforward at each side of the con'ibing device, said fingers each having an abrupt, rigid end contacting with the face of the stack.

25. A sheet separator including in combination .a traveling combing device,-a support arranged to the rear of said combing device, a plurality of inherently resilient sheet-holding fingers mounted on said suppo'rt and ex tending forward at each side of the combing device with their ends contacting with the face of the stack. I

26. In a sheet separator, the combination with a. spring finger extending over the face of the stack-and having its end in contact with the face of the stack, of a rigid member attached to said spring finger, a pivotal support for said rigid member and means for .moving said rigid member about its pivotal support to vary the pressure of said spring finger upon the sheet.-

27. In a sheet separator, the combination with a spring finger extending overthe face of the stack and having an abrupt, rigid end in contact with'the face of the stack, of a rigid. member attached to said springfinger, a pivotal support for said rigid member and means for moving said rigid member about its pivotal support to-vary the pressure of said spring finger upon the sheet.

28. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination sheet supporting means, a plurality of combing devices, a plurality of feeding oftdevices, a plurality of holding devices having abrupt, rigid contact portions acting on the rear ends of the sheets, and

means for regulating the pressure of such contact portions whereby they will hold a sheet against the action of the feedin off devices when acting through another s eet, but not against the combing devices and means for positioning said devices to act on sheets of different sizes. i

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' RUFUS A. FREEMAN. Witnesses: y

H. I. KLnrNEnr, A. WANGLER? 

